Stop your dog from jumping once and for all

ne of the easiest ways to train your dog is to simply ignore him when he jumps up. Dogs jump up on us because they're excited and want to get our attention. When you react to your dog's behavior, even if it's to tell them "no" or push them off of you, you are giving him the attention he wants. So instead of conveying to your dog that you don't like his jumping, you are inadvertently saying, "When you jump on me, I will pay attention to you".

Instead of pushing your dog off or telling him "no", simply ignore him until he has all four feet on the ground. Keep your hands to yourself and turn your body when he jumps up so he's not mistaking your actions for attention. When all four paws are on the ground, immediately praise your dog and give him the attention he craves. If your dog gets overexcited and starts jumping up again, go back to ignoring him until he puts his feet on the ground.

Another way to train your dog is to work on learning a command like "sit". Most dogs can learn sit very easily - especially if they are food motivated. Instead of simply ignoring your dog when he starts jumping up, give him another job to do by asking him to sit. Again, be sure to offer him praise when he performs the task you've asked him to as the positive reinforcement will help encourage him to sit instead of jump up on you. For some dogs, a favorite toy may distract your dog from jumping on you easier than a command.

Once you've trained your dog to greet you properly, don't stop there. An important part of training your dog to stop jumping on people to greet them is to make sure he has the opportunity to greet people other than you. As with all training, consistency is crucial. Invite friends and family members into your home to help round out your dog's training and explain to them what you expect them to do. If every person who enters your home uses a different method to discourage your dog from jumping up, your dog will never know what is expected of him.

Training a dog to stop jumping on you isn't difficult, but does require a commitment on your part to stick with the training process so your dog is able to learn what is expected of him.

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, a cockatoo, a cat, a bearded dragon, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.